Peter Tremayne - The Dove of Death

‘And you heard nothing of any other prisoner being brought to the ship?’

‘As I say, Brother Eadulf, nothing did we hear until you came and opened the door to our prison. We did not even know there was a lady on board.’

Eadulf pursed his lips reflectively and glanced to where Trifina was standing by the railing, aloof and isolated. He then turned back reassuringly to the boy.

‘Well, all will be sorted out soon. And your cat was fine and healthy, last time I saw it.’

‘I suppose Hoel will be captain now that Murchad and Gurvan are dead?’

‘I suppose so. That is the crew’s decision. I think he was Gurvan’s assistant.’

‘Second mate,’ corrected the boy gently.

‘When we are ready, Hoel will have to sail us back to Aird Mhór.’

‘He’s a good seaman,’ said the boy solemnly.

The crew of the Barnacle Goose had cleared the deck of the bodies of the dead and transferred the prisoner to join the others on the Morvran . Buckets of water had been hauled up to wash away the blood and remove all signs of the recent conflict. Under Hoel’s instructions, the crew had also examined all the spars, sails and ropes to ensure that nothing had been tampered with and all was in working order.

Finally, Hoel came to inform them that the ship was ready.

Bleidbara smiled. ‘Excellent. I am leaving a couple of my best seamen to guide you out of here, and we’ll rendezvous off Brilhag.’ He turned to Eadulf. ‘I shall leave Trifina with you. Keep a careful watch on her…you know what I mean.’

He then addressed Hoel. ‘Our rowing boats can tow your ship stern first out of the creek. Once you have room to manoeuvre, then we’ll let you loose and it should be easy sailing.’ He gestured at one of his men. ‘This one is a good helmsman. You may put your trust in him to guide you through these waters to Brilhag.’

Bleidbara raised his hand, a quick gesture of farewell, and then followed Heraclius back over the side into the small boats.

The tow ropes were fixed and soon the ship, after the mooring ropes were cast off, was being pulled stern first into deep waters. Once clear of the shore they moved into a breeze that whispered against their sails. Ropes from the rowing boats were cast off and they could hear Hoel give the orders to hoist sail. With a crack of canvas they fell into place and the Barnacle Goose moved freely once again across the waters. Behind them, like a watchful guardian, came the sleek lines of the Morvran .

There had been consternation at Brilhag when the guards reported two ships moving into the bay below the fortress. But Fidelma recognised the first ship as the Barnacle Goose and her heart began to beat rapidly. Then she realised the escort was the Morvran and was filled with excitement and hope that Eadulf was alive and well. With a word of reassurance to King Alain, she raced headlong down to the small quay. Boric was about to launch a dinghy and readily agreed to take her out to the ships. She did not want anyone else from Brilhag to speak with Eadulf and Bleidbara before she had had a chance to hear their story.

Now, seated on the deck of the Morvran , where Eadulf had come to join her, she listened quietly to their story. At the end of it she peered across at the Barnacle Goose . She could see a boat being lowered.

‘Trifina has persuaded them to take her ashore already,’ she remarked. As Bleidbara stirred uncomfortably, she added: ‘Don’t worry. She will not be going anywhere other than Brilhag.’

‘But I believe she is involved in this,’ pointed out Bleidbara sadly. ‘Nothing else makes sense. Yet I do not want to believe it, lady. However, she did not appear to be a prisoner on the ship. And she has always felt that she should be the successor to her father. It all seems to fit together and yet…and yet…’

‘Yet you are in love with her,’ Fidelma finished for him. ‘Did she mention Iuna?’

‘Only to claim that it was Iuna herself who had abducted her. Trifina says that once she was placed in the boat, Iuna returned to the fortress. She also claims that she knew nothing about Ceingar being killed.’

‘How is Iuna — do we know?’ Fidelma asked.

‘When we passed Govihan, Heraclius went ashore to find out how she is, and promised to bring the news to Brilhag later.’

Fidelma stretched almost languidly, murmuring, ‘Well, I think all falls into place.’

Bleidbara frowned, puzzled, but his anxiety overcame the questions that rose to his lips.

‘We should be away soon, lady. We have to catch the tide to take us out into the Great Sea. We must get to the rendezvous at dusk to pick up the leader of the Koulm ar Maro — they will find the Morvran waiting for them instead.’

To their surprise, Fidelma gave a negative sign with her hand.

‘They will not be at that rendezvous. So there is no need for you to go.’

‘I don’t understand, lady,’ Bleidbara said. ‘How do you know this? Do you mean that because we have captured Trifina…?’

Fidelma rose and walked to the rail of the Morvran ; she leaned forward, watching the dinghy bobbing on the waters away from the Barnacle Goose , making for the quayside below the fortress. They followed her gaze and could see the figure of Trifina in the stern.

‘The leaders of this intricate plot are now at Brilhag,’ Fidelma told them. ‘The culmination of the plan was due to happen here, before dusk, before they left to escape on their ship.’

‘Then you do know who they are?’ demanded Eadulf in astonishment.

There was a smile at the corner of Fidelma’s mouth.

‘ Patientia vincit ,’ she reproved with good humour. ‘We will have patience and allow our conspirators a little more slack rope. Don’t you agree, Bleidbara?’

The young warrior looked perplexed. ‘Whatever you say, lady. I will follow your orders.’

‘We will hold our investigation in the great hall at dusk. I have already asked permission of King Alain, who has now arrived. Also, the bretat that Brother Metellus sent for is here. Word has been delivered to those who need to attend, such as Barbatil. But now that the Dove of Death already realises that the plan is thwarted, that the ship is sunk and there is no escape, the next step is an uncertain one. Will they, at this late stage, attempt to carry out the final act to which these last two weeks have been leading?’

Bleidbara looked startled and Eadulf was just as bewildered.

‘The final act? What is that?’ he asked.

Her good humour banished, Fidelma looked grimly at each of them in turn.

‘Why, the assassination of the King, Alain Hir, by the family of the mac’htiern of Bilhag. An attempt to put a new ruler on the throne of the Bretons.’

The great hall of Brilhag was crowded. Dusk was gathering outside and numerous oil lamps, unglazed earthenware receptacles with a snout to support the wicks, had already been lit in the main body of the hall. Their flickering flames caused a smoky atmosphere to permeate the interior of the building, sending out a pungent aroma. With the people crowding into the hall, the place was warm, uncomfortably so. The ornate tables had been carried to one side, and chairs and benches placed for people to sit. Facing the main body of the hall, a small platform had been raised by the servants in front of the large fireplace. It was a wooden construction on which four wooden chairs had been placed. Behind each was a tall, wrought-metal candleholder in which beeswax candles were lit.

King Alain and Riwanon had seated themselves on the centre chairs. The red-haired ruler of the Bretons had a sombre expression. The attractive Riwanon was colourfully dressed, so that many an eye focused in her direction. On the King’s right sat Lord Canao, the mac’htiern of Brilhag, Alain’s close friend. He looked anxious, his forehead creased in a permanent frown. When he appeared, there had been many angry mutterings from the local people now pressed onto the benches to hear the judgement of Macliau by the King and his bretat . To Riwanon’s left sat Budic, the handsome son of the King and commander of the bodyguard.